Hartlepool Utd 2, Wrexham 0

WREXHAM manager Denis Smith would probably have settled for three points from two difficult away matches before last Saturday's visit to Tranmere Rovers - and that's all he was left with following an evening to forget in the North East last night.

WREXHAM manager Denis Smith would probably have settled for three points from two difficult away matches before last Saturday's visit to Tranmere Rovers - and that's all he was left with following an evening to forget in the North East last night.

There were shades of last season's 4-3 defeat at the Victoria Ground in the first-half defensive lapses by the Dragons, which ultimately cost them the chance of taking anything from the match.

And, although they improved somewhat in the second period, they rarely looked capable of breaking down the home team's defensive wall.

Both sides made one change from their weekend games, United replacing injured striker Marco Gabbiadini with Paul Robinson, while Wrexham's Prenton Park match-winner, Shaun Holmes, was given his first start of the season ahead of Paul Edwards.

The home side, whose unbeaten home run of 22 matches stretched back more than 12 months, failed to break down Brighton's defence on Saturday but have nevertheless averaged two goals in each of their 10 league matches so far.

And history was not on Wrexham's side going into the game, their last win on Hartlepool turf coming as long ago as 1988 when goals from Joey Jones, Roger Preece and Graham Cooper sealed the points in a 3-1 victory.

United seemed determined to keep it like that in their brisk opening, which saw visiting goalkeeper Andy Dibble, who played six games for the opposition in 1999, out quickly at the feet of Robinson before Brian Carey's tackle halted an enterprising run from Eifion Williams.

And Robinson squandered a great opportunity to put the home side ahead in the ninth minute, following a good run from Ritchie Humpherys. He rolled the ball invitingly into the striker's path but the shot from 18 yards was always going wide.

Inevitably, perhaps, it was Carlos Edwards who made Wrexham's first break of note in the 14th minute, evading several tackles in a forceful run from half-way to the penalty area where Chris Westwood finally took the ball from his toe.

Mark Tinkler, who scored a hat-trick in the corresponding fixture last season, went close four minutes later, glancing a header just wide of the post from another good delivery by Humphreys and the visitors survived a strong penalty appeal in the 22nd minute.

Darrell Clarke attempted to flick the ball over Dennis Lawrence, who definitely handled the ball, whether intentionally or not, but refereee Chris Foy indicated his chest, much to the fury of the home fans behind Dibble's goal.

But they had barely a minute to wait before celebrating the opening goal, which was set up when Robinson won possession and slipped the ball through to Clarke, who jinked his way beyond both Carey and Dibble for a tap-in.

Within 60 seconds, an equaliser was on the cards as Darren Ferguson's accurate pass gave Lee Jones something to bite on, but the striker's shot went straight into the waiting arms of Jim Provett.

Going behind certainly brought the desired reaction from the Dragons and when the Ferguson-Jones link cbined again, it needed a fine defensive header from Michael Nelson to deny Edwards before Provett made an excellent save in holding a Steve Thomas free-kick from 25 yards.

That is not to say United were defending their lead, since some of their movement and passing was of the highest order and the visitors' defence could not afford to relax for an instant as an unmarked Clarke proved yet again in the 37th minute, stealing in from the right to turn Tinkler's cross past Dibble for a 2-0 lead.

Two minutes before the break another chance went begging for Wrexham, following a sweeping move involving Jones and Edwards, but when the ball came in from the right, Chris Llewellyn's first-time shot curled inches past the upright.

The restart saw Hector Sam on for a presumably injured Edwards and Steve Roberts replacing Shaun Pejic, who had struggled to cope with Humphreys in the opening 45 minutes.

And there was nearly an early dividend for the visitors, despite United's efforts to kill off the contest.

Llewellyn's high ball was flicked on by Jones to Sam, who was beaten by Provett, but his mistimed punch gave Jones, falling backwards, a second chance, only for the 'keeper to somehow recover his ground and turn the ball against the bar.

Then Sam, put away by Ferguson, did extremely well to cut in from the right and carve out a chance, but he turned once too often and enabled Gavin Strachan to block his shot from seven yards.

Wrexham became increasingly frustrated by their inability to gain any real foothold in the game and were leaving gaps at the back.

But, for their part, United hardly looked confident when they were forced to defend and Llewellyn went close to closing the gap after 75 minutes, drilling in a low shot that took a deflection for a corner.

Sam, as ever a mix of magic and muddle, nearly caught out the home defence nine minutes from time with a vicious effort from 20 yards but, unfortunately for him, Provett was well placed.